Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-10

While the more serious charges made against
the District Commissioners are apparently unsas
tanned, and while the public presentation OF these
accusations in the absence OF substantial proof
goes beyond the limits OF proper criticism, the
right to discuss the acts and plans OF the NUM-
cipal government Is not to be abandoned because
OF its occasional abuse. The lecture to the local
press" contained I'm the preface furnished BY
the District commissioners TO Capt Symons
report Is wholly uncalled for. That por-
ton OF the press OF Washington which
can at all be regarded as an exponent OF local
public sentiment has the real interests OF the Dis
trict as much at heart as the Commissioners can
possibly have, whether as individuals or as gov
erning body, and 1t is moreover quite as intelli-
gent and Conscientious In the course It pursues as
they can be- When the Commissioners suggest
that criticism upon their methods and meas
ures Is unwarranted and against the public
good, they fall into foolish and trouble-breed-
ing mistake. The press has a clear duty to
perform to the public in this as In other matters
affecting the general welfare, and those In charge
OF II are usually better capable OF judging what
that duty Is and how 1t should be performed than
even the District Commissioners The press will
doubtless continue to exercise its right to critcfse
as well its duty TO praise, appropriate occa-
SONS, the acts OF those IN power. Complaints, for
instance, about the methods and plans Of the
water department preceded the unsustained
are disposed of. There was and is foundation for
these complaints though some objections
have been obviated by the acts and state
mepts OF the Commissioners 1t is the
general opinion that the waterfalls should be
delivered at the houses OF takers, as heretofore.
The new schedule OF water-rentS Is said to be
move in the direction OF equity. While there viii
be hardShips under any method Of guessing at the
probable consumption OF water, the numerous in
stances of Inequality and absurdity which have
been developed under the present method suggest
that still further progress may be made in the d.
rectton OF a more equitable appOrtiOnment OF the
cost OF water In proportion to consumption, with
out, however, increasing even incidentally the
water rents The cost of water In this city should
steadily decrease, and neither Congress nor the
Commissioners should take such action as to work
an increase.
The apprehension expressed by the Commits
EionerS that opposition to them endangers the
present form on government is also thought to be
without foundation. Unsustained charges OF
corruption, widely circulated, doubtless injure
the progress Of the District by preJudicing and
alarming Congress. But neither proper nor i'm
proper criticism threatens the present form Of
government. The best and, It may be said, the
general sentiment OF this community is that the
existing form is both the best and cheapest gov
eminent the District has ever had or Is likely to
have, and the purpose iof the great body OF the
Commissioners critics is not to destroy or change
but to improve 1t ana make 1t more worthy of per.
petuation- The danger TO 1t is to be FOUND there
fore, not In the senseless and noisy clamor joined
70 general denunciatiOn so often INDUCED in,
but In the manner In which the government Is
administered by those from time TO time charged
with that duty. II the predicted change ever
comes it viii come not from the wild hostility Of
&he enemies Of the present form, but because Of
such just grounds or opposition and criticism as
HAY be found by Congress to exist. These
grounds the Commissioners have it largely In
their power to remove and to prevent. II they
perform their duties with wisdom, diligence and
1idelity,-wtth an eye single to the good of the
whole District,-and not In the interest of any
particular locality combination or influence there
VII be nothing to fear. On the other hand they
vim have the strong and sure support OF the popu-
lar will,-which, whether in favor of or opposed
70 those for the time being In power is certain to
ass ert itself, and to prevail in the end.